Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Drivers

If you are employed in a position that requires commercial driving for either delivery or passenger transport, it is essential to understand the laws pertaining to the drug and alcohol testing of commercial drivers and what these tests mean for your job. Drug and alcohol testing of commercial drivers requires compliance from both employee and employer, an understanding of the reasons why drug and alcohol testing is necessary, and a serious attitude toward the process itself. Drug or alcohol testing could occur at any time during employment.

There are five situations in which a commercial driver might be required to submit to a drug and alcohol test to determine the likelihood of substance abuse. The first drug and alcohol test a company requires commonly occurs before you are hired as a commercial driver. Though employers are not required by law to test commercial drivers prior to employment, many insist on drug and alcohol testing of potential employees prior to employment rather than waste time hiring an employee with problems.

The second reason for drug and alcohol testing for a commercial driver is following a traffic citation or an accident in which there were injuries or death involved. Alcohol testing is done within two hours of an accident; any delay requires submitting special paperwork with certifications to explain the delay. Drug testing must be performed within 32 hours of a commercial driving accident and is a requirement after any accident resulting with vehicles towed from the scene, a moving violation, injury requiring hospital treatment, or death.

Another reason for drug and alcohol testing of commercial drivers is the random test. Surprise drug and alcohol testing for certain commercial driving positions is required by law to make sure the employee remains drug and alcohol compliant and safe. Your supervisor will be able to tell you if your commercial driving position requires annual surprise drug and alcohol testing, but they can not tell you when the tests will actually occur.